The Forward has a profile today of Jewish Voice for Peace, “JVP, Harsh Critic Of Israel, Seeks a Seat at the Communal Table,” in which they get a lot right. But the subheader, “But Its Refusal To Support ‘Two States’ Prevents Acceptance” is wrong.
The two-state solution supported by most liberal communal Jewish leadership today would likely not come close to meeting the standard of upholding the rights of both Palestinians and Israeli Jews — and it’s simply unheard of for a Jewish group to refuse to participate in a discourse that pretends that it does. Such a solution, which involves turning Palestine into a series of isolated cantons, is a violation of Palestinian national rights and would certainly result in a failure to achieve a lasting peace. Israel’s increasing adoption of discriminatory laws and practices targeted at over 20% of its population must also be addressed by anyone genuinely concerned about Israel’s future and the two state solution.
(Equally we would never support a one state solution that negates the rights of Jews or Palestinians- some in the Israeli right are supporting just such a vision that negates the democratic rights of Palestinians.)
The irony of course is that our older members were pilloried by the Jewish establishment years ago for daring to be among the first Jews to say Palestinians deserved their own state. And now only after those same Jewish organizations have done such an excellent job of supporting or enabling massive settlement expansion meant to prevent a viable future Palestinian state, have they suddenly decided that a Palestinian state is in Israel’s best interest. But it’s entirely possible that it’s too little too late. I honestly don’t know what the future holds, but if the settlement and occupation infrastructure is so entrenched that a Palestinian state is no longer possible , they have no one to blame but themselves.
Instead of once again blaming the messenger, liberal communal Jewish groups could choose instead to have a reality-based conversation about the real implications of Israel’s decades-long settlement feeding frenzy and could consider the revolutionary idea that decades of militarism, repression and land theft have been a total disaster for Israelis. And that a durable solution must include negotiations with Palestinians as independent actors entitled to equal rights.
As Jews proud of our history and confident of our identity, who see the Israeli Jewish present and future intertwined with that of the Palestinians, we think a reality-based discussion of all options for a lasting and fair peace is indeed good for the Jews.
Cecilie Surasky is deputy director of Jewish Voice for Peace.
